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Education Alumni Profiles: Deborah Holley Root ('81)
January 01, 2020
"No matter what level you teach, always keep in mind that you are not only there to
teach content, but you are there to grow your students as individuals. Your influence
goes beyond their classroom performance."
Deborah Root chose OBU after attending the Arkansas High School Press Association summer journalism workshop and meeting some of her future professors. She had a strong interest in journalism education, which was sparked by her high school teachers.
After graduating from OBU, Deborah taught high school journalism at Shiloh Christian School. This teaching opportunity then jumpstarted her adventure to becoming the sports editor of the Arkadelphia Daily Siftings for a year, before joining the staff at OBU. After two years at OBU, she was hired as the News Bureau Director, Sports Information Director, and as an Instructor in Mass Communications.
After five years in Arkadelphia, Deborah decided to pursue her doctoral degree at Oklahoma State University with an Ed.D. in Higher Education/College Teaching with an emphasis in Mass Communications. It was during her last semester at OSU that Dr. Ben Elrod and Dr. Andy Westmoreland worked to bring her back home to OBU. She has been at OBU for 26 years now and is thriving in the profession that she loves.
When asked how OBU prepared her for her career, Deborah stated “my education classes prepared me to teach journalism. My experience at Ouachita solidified my interest in journalism education. In fact, journalism certification was the focus of my doctoral dissertation.”
When thinking of her favorite OBU Education Program memory, Deborah recalls her positive student teaching experience. “Ouachita prepared me well for the classroom. I enjoyed teaching in front of my peers, and then transferring that experience to an actual classroom.”
For her favorite P-12 classroom memory, Deborah enjoyed getting to work with students on the yearbook and newspaper staffs. “You learn so much your first year of teaching. You learn what works, and you learn from your mistakes. It was a very rewarding year.”
“Attitude matters. Teaching is your calling, not just a profession.”
Thank you, Deborah Root, for being a life changing educator!
Deborah Holley Root:
- Class of 1981
- BA Communications - Ouachita Baptist University
- BSE Secondary Ed Journalism, Speech, Theatre - Ouachita Baptist University
- MSE English, Reading - Ouachita Baptist University
- Ed.D. Higher Education, Mass Communications - OSU
- Journalism, Publication, Advisor – Shiloh Christian School
- Mass Communications Professor - Ouachita Baptist University
Deborah Root chose OBU after attending the Arkansas High School Press Association summer journalism workshop and meeting some of her future professors. She had a strong interest in journalism education, which was sparked by her high school teachers.
After graduating from OBU, Deborah taught high school journalism at Shiloh Christian School. This teaching opportunity then jumpstarted her adventure to becoming the sports editor of the Arkadelphia Daily Siftings for a year, before joining the staff at OBU. After two years at OBU, she was hired as the News Bureau Director, Sports Information Director, and as an Instructor in Mass Communications.
After five years in Arkadelphia, Deborah decided to pursue her doctoral degree at Oklahoma State University with an Ed.D. in Higher Education/College Teaching with an emphasis in Mass Communications. It was during her last semester at OSU that Dr. Ben Elrod and Dr. Andy Westmoreland worked to bring her back home to OBU. She has been at OBU for 26 years now and is thriving in the profession that she loves.
When asked how OBU prepared her for her career, Deborah stated “my education classes prepared me to teach journalism. My experience at Ouachita solidified my interest in journalism education. In fact, journalism certification was the focus of my doctoral dissertation.”
When thinking of her favorite OBU Education Program memory, Deborah recalls her positive student teaching experience. “Ouachita prepared me well for the classroom. I enjoyed teaching in front of my peers, and then transferring that experience to an actual classroom.”
For her favorite P-12 classroom memory, Deborah enjoyed getting to work with students on the yearbook and newspaper staffs. “You learn so much your first year of teaching. You learn what works, and you learn from your mistakes. It was a very rewarding year.”
“Attitude matters. Teaching is your calling, not just a profession.”
Thank you, Deborah Root, for being a life changing educator!
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